JP2016103141A - Device management system and device management program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device management system and a device management program capable of setting a piece of information acquired from a previous device to a new device even when the previous device is already removed from a network at a point when the new device is connected to the network.SOLUTION: The device management system manages a multifunction peripheral (MFP) via a network. The device management system receives an advance order of replacement of an MFP (S54); acquires a specific information from a previous MFP at a specific point of time before scheduled time of a replacement, which is included in an advance order of the replacement received in step S54 (S57); identifies a new MFP for the previous MFP (S59); and sets the specific information acquired in S57 to the new MFP identified in step S59 (S62).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a device management system and a device management program for managing devices via a network.

  Conventionally, as a device management system for managing devices via a network, when a new device is registered, a device that sets information acquired from a device that satisfies a specific condition among devices on the network as a new device A management system is known (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2004-160950 A JP 2011-211304 A

  However, in the conventional device management system, when a device is replaced, when the replaced device is already removed from the network when the replaced device is connected to the network, it is acquired from the device before replacement. There is a problem that the set information cannot be set in the replaced device.

  Therefore, the present invention provides the information obtained from the device before replacement to the device after replacement even when the device before replacement is already disconnected from the network when the device after replacement is connected to the network. It is an object to provide a device management system and a device management program that can be set.

  The device management system according to the present invention is a device management system that manages devices via a network, and is included in the reservation received by the replacement reservation accepting unit that accepts a device replacement reservation and the replacement reservation accepting unit. Specific information acquisition means for acquiring specific information from a device before replacement at a specific time before the scheduled replacement time, device information specifying means for replacement after replacement with respect to the device before replacement, and the specific information And a specific information setting unit configured to set the specific information acquired by the acquiring unit in the device after replacement specified by the post-replacement device specifying unit.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention acquires information from the device before replacement at a specific time before the scheduled replacement time included in the device replacement reservation. Even when the device before replacement is already disconnected from the network at the time of connection, the information acquired from the device before replacement can be set in the device after replacement.

  Further, the device management system of the present invention includes position information acquisition means for acquiring position information of a device, and the replacement device specifying means is replaced with the device after replacement from the device before replacement. The determination may be made based on the position information of the device before replacement and the position information of the device after replacement acquired by the position information acquisition means.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention can automatically determine that the device before replacement has been replaced with the device after replacement based on the position information of the device, thereby improving convenience. Can do.

  The device management system of the present invention further comprises permission acceptance information transmitting means for transmitting permission acceptance information for accepting an operation for permitting the setting of the specific information to the device after the replacement. The information setting unit sets the specific information in the replaced device when the permission is transmitted from the replaced device to which the permission receiving information is transmitted by the permission receiving information transmitting unit. May be.

  With this configuration, the device management system according to the present invention allows the device before replacement to be replaced when the user is permitted to set information acquired from the device before replacement in the device after replacement. Since the acquired information is set in the device after replacement, the information acquired from the device before replacement can be set in the device after replacement as desired by the user.

  Further, the device management system of the present invention comprises request reception information distribution means for distributing request reception information for receiving an operation for requesting setting of the specific information to devices on the network, and the replacement The subsequent device specifying unit may specify a device that has transmitted the request among the devices to which the request reception information is distributed by the request reception information distribution unit as the replaced device.

  With this configuration, the device management system according to the present invention enables the device before replacement to start from the device before replacement when a request for setting the information acquired from the device before replacement to the device after replacement is made by the user via the device after replacement. Since the acquired information is set in the device after replacement, the information acquired from the device before replacement can be set in the device after replacement at a timing desired by the user.

  In the device management system of the present invention, the reservation includes a type of the device after the replacement, and the request reception information distribution unit includes only devices of the type included in the reservation among the devices on the network. The request reception information may be distributed.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention does not distribute request reception information to a device that is clearly not a device after replacement, so a request to set information acquired from the device before replacement to the device after replacement Is limited based on the information for accepting requests, and the possibility that the user of the device makes an unnecessary determination based on the information for accepting requests can be reduced.

  In the device management system of the present invention, the reservation includes a password, and the device specifying unit after replacement transmits the request when the password included in the request is included in the reservation. May be specified as the replaced device.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention enables the information before the replacement when the request for setting the information acquired from the device before the replacement to the device after the replacement is made by a person other than the user who recognizes the password. Since the information acquired from the device is not set in the replaced device, it is possible to prevent the information acquired from the device before replacement from leaking out to a third party.

  In addition, the device management system of the present invention is a request for transmitting registration acceptance means for accepting device registration and request acceptance information for accepting an operation for requesting setting of the specific information to the input source of the registration. Receiving information transmitting means, wherein the request receiving information transmitting means transmits the request receiving information when registration of a new device is received by the registration receiving means, and the replaced device specifying means is When the request is transmitted from the input source from which the request reception information is transmitted by the request reception information transmission unit, the new device received by the registration reception unit is replaced with the replaced device. You may specify as.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention allows the user to make a request to set the information acquired from the device before replacement in the device after replacement through the input source of registration of the device after replacement. Since the information acquired from the device before replacement is set in the device after replacement, the information acquired from the device before replacement can be set in the device after replacement at the timing desired by the user.

  In the device management system of the present invention, the reservation includes user identification information, and the request reception information transmission unit identifies the requester of the new device registration received by the registration reception unit. When the information is included in the reservation, the request reception information may be transmitted.

  With this configuration, when the user specified in the reservation requests registration of a new device, the device management system of the present invention is for a request to set information acquired from the device before replacement in the device after replacement. Since the request acceptance information for accepting the operation is transmitted, it is possible to prevent the information acquired from the device before replacement from leaking to a third party.

  In the device management system of the present invention, the reservation includes the type of the device after replacement, and the request reception information transmission unit is configured such that the new device type received by the registration reception unit is the reservation type. If it is included in the request, the request acceptance information may be transmitted.

  With this configuration, the device management system of the present invention does not transmit the request acceptance information even when a device that is clearly not a device after replacement is newly registered. Therefore, based on the request acceptance information to the device registrant. The possibility of making unnecessary judgments can be reduced.

  The device management program of the present invention is a device management program for managing a device via a network, and includes a replacement reservation accepting unit that accepts a device replacement reservation, and a replacement included in the reservation accepted by the replacement reservation accepting unit Specific information acquisition means for acquiring specific information from a device before replacement at a specific time before the scheduled time, device replacement means for replacement after specifying a device after replacement for the device before replacement, and acquisition of the specific information The computer is caused to function as specific information setting means for setting the specific information acquired by the means in the replaced device specified by the post-replacement device specifying means.

  With this configuration, the device management program of the present invention acquires information from the device before replacement at a specific time before the scheduled replacement time included in the device replacement reservation. Even when the device before replacement is already disconnected from the network at the time of connection, the information acquired from the device before replacement can be set in the device after replacement.

  The device management system and the device management program according to the present invention provide information acquired from a device before replacement even when the device before replacement is already disconnected from the network when the device after replacement is connected to the network. Can be set in the replaced device.

1A is a block diagram of an image forming system according to a first embodiment of the present invention before MFP replacement. FIG. FIG. 2B is a block diagram of the image forming system shown in FIG. It is a block diagram of the device management system shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the replacement reservation shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the map information shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the MFP shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram of an operation of the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation screen displayed on the display unit of the MFP before replacement shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a permission acceptance screen displayed on the display unit of the MFP after replacement shown in FIG. 1. (A) It is a block diagram of the image forming system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention before replacement of MFP. FIG. 10B is a block diagram of the image forming system shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the device management system shown in FIG. 9. It is a figure which shows an example of the replacement reservation shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating operations of the image forming system illustrated in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a reservation screen displayed on the display unit of the MFP before replacement shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of the MFP after replacement shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a request acceptance screen displayed on the display unit of the MFP after replacement shown in FIG. 9. (A) It is a block diagram of the image forming system which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention before replacement of MFP. FIG. 17B is a block diagram of the image forming system shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the device management system shown in FIG. 16. It is a figure which shows an example of the replacement reservation shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the user information shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image forming system shown in FIG. 16 until storing specific information of the MFP before replacement. It is a figure which shows an example of the reservation screen displayed on the display part of the computer shown in FIG. FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image forming system shown in FIG. 16 after storing the specific information of the MFP before replacement. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen for request receptions displayed on the display part of the computer shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
First, the configuration of the image forming system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an image forming system 10 according to the present embodiment before replacement of an MFP (Multifunction Peripheral). FIG. 1B is a block diagram of the image forming system 10 after the replacement of the MFP.

  An image forming system 10 shown in FIG. 1A includes a device management system 20 that manages devices via a network 11 such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or the Internet, and a plurality of MFPs as devices. The device management system 20 and the MFP are connected to each other via the network 11 so that they can communicate with each other.

  The image forming system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1B is a state in which the MFP 30 is replaced with the MFP 40 with respect to the image forming system 10 illustrated in FIG. That is, the MFP 30 and the MFP 40 are a device before replacement and a device after replacement, respectively.

  The device management system 20 is a system that collects various types of information such as toner usage status in the MFP and operating status in the MFP such as an error has occurred from each MFP. The device management system 20 exists on the on-premises environment or cloud of the administrator of the MFP.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the device management system 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the device management system 20 includes an operation unit 21 that is an input device such as a mouse and a keyboard to which various operations are input, and a display device such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) that displays various information. And a communication unit 23 that is a communication device that performs communication with an external apparatus such as the MFP 30 (see FIG. 1) and the MFP 40 (see FIG. 1) via the network 11 (see FIG. 1). A storage unit 24 that is a storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) that stores programs and various data, and a control unit 25 that controls the entire device management system 20. The device management system 20 is configured by a computer such as a PC (Personal Computer).

  The storage unit 24 stores a device management program 24 a that manages MFPs via the network 11. The device management program 24a may be installed in the device management system 20 at the manufacturing stage of the device management system 20, or a storage such as a CD (Compact Disk), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory. It may be additionally installed in the device management system 20 from a medium, or may be additionally installed in the device management system 20 from the network.

  The storage unit 24 can store a plurality of MFP replacement reservations (hereinafter referred to as “replacement reservations”) 24b.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the replacement reservation 24b.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the replacement reservation 24b is used as identification information for an MFP replacement scheduled time (hereinafter referred to as “replacement scheduled time”) and an MFP before replacement (hereinafter referred to as “pre-replacement MFP”). Device ID and the location information of the pre-replacement MFP.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the storage unit 24 can store specific information (hereinafter referred to as “specific information”) 24c acquired from the pre-replacement MFP for each pre-replacement MFP. Here, the specific information 24c is information such as various setting values set in the pre-replacement MFP and an address book.

  The storage unit 24 can store map information 24d indicating position information of MFPs to be managed by the device management system 20.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the map information 24d.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the map information 24d includes a device ID as MFP identification information and MFP position information for each MFP.

  2 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and various data in advance, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) used as a work area of the CPU. ). The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 24.

  The control unit 25 executes the device management program 24a stored in the storage unit 24, thereby replacing the replacement reservation receiving unit 25a that receives the replacement reservation, the specific information acquiring unit 25b that acquires the specific information from the pre-replacement MFP, and the pre-replacement A post-replacement device specifying unit 25c that specifies an MFP after replacement with respect to the MFP (hereinafter referred to as “replaced MFP”), a specific information setting unit 25d that sets specific information in the replaced MFP, and a position for acquiring the position information of the MFP It functions as information acquisition means 25e and permission reception information transmission means 25f for transmitting permission reception information for receiving an operation for permission of setting specific information to the MFP after replacement.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the MFP 30.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the MFP 30 includes an operation unit 31 that is an input device such as buttons for inputting various operations, a display unit 32 that is a display device such as an LCD that displays various information, and an image from a document. Fax communication is performed via a scanner 33 that is a reading device, a printer 34 that is a printing device that performs printing on a recording medium such as paper, and an external facsimile apparatus (not shown) and a communication line such as a public telephone line A fax communication unit 35, which is a fax device, and a communication unit 36, which is a communication device that performs communication with an external apparatus such as the device management system 20 (see FIG. 1) via the network 11 (see FIG. 1). For example, GPS (Global Positioning System) reception for acquiring the position information of the MFP 30 A position information acquisition unit 37 such as a communication device, an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) that stores various data, a storage unit 38 that is a storage device such as an HDD, and a control unit 39 that controls the entire MFP 30. It has.

  The storage unit 38 can store various setting values set in the MFP 30 and specific information 38 a such as an address book.

  The control unit 39 includes, for example, a CPU, a ROM storing programs and various data, and a RAM as a main storage device used as a work area of the CPU. The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM or the storage unit 38.

  The configuration of MFPs other than the MFP 30 such as the MFP 40 (see FIG. 1) is the same as the configuration of the MFP 30.

  Next, the operation of the image forming system 10 will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image forming system 10.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the start of replacement reservation is instructed via the operation unit 31 of the MFP 30, the control unit 39 of the MFP 30 instructs the device management system 20 to start the replacement reservation (S51).

  Next, the replacement reservation receiving unit 25a of the device management system 20 transmits information of the replacement reservation screen 70 (see FIG. 7) to the MFP 30 in response to the instruction of S51 (S52).

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the reservation screen 70.

  The reservation screen 70 shown in FIG. 7 includes a list display area 71 for indicating a list of MFPs to be managed by the device management system 20 for designating a pre-replacement MFP, and a plurality of spin buttons 72 for receiving a scheduled replacement time. , An OK button 73 for executing the replacement reservation, and a cancel button 74 for canceling the replacement reservation.

  The user can select the replacement target MFP 30 from the MFPs displayed in the list display area 71 via the operation unit 31 of the MFP 30. The list display area 71 may display MFPs in a map format based on the position information of the map information 24d.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 39 of the MFP 30 displays the reservation screen 70 shown in FIG. 7 on the display unit 32 based on the information transmitted in S <b> 52, and instructs the reservation screen 70 via the operation unit 31. In response to this, the device management system 20 is instructed to replace the MFP 30 (S53).

  Note that the processing of S51 and S53 may be executed by an apparatus other than the MFP 30. For example, the user can make a reservation for replacement of the MFP 30 in the device management system 20 via a computer such as a PC (not shown) or an MFP other than the MFP 30.

  The replacement reservation receiving unit 25a of the device management system 20 receives the replacement reservation instructed in S53 (S54). Here, the replacement reservation accepting means 25 a is the replacement scheduled time specified by the spin button 72 of the reservation screen 70, the device ID of the pre-replacement MFP specified in the list display area 71 of the reservation screen 70, and the reservation screen 70. A replacement reservation 24b including position information associated with the pre-replacement MFP specified in the list display area 71 in the map information 24d is stored in the storage unit 24.

  Then, the specific information acquisition unit 25b of the device management system 20 requests specific information from the pre-replacement MFP, that is, the MFP 30, at a specific time before the scheduled replacement time included in the replacement reservation 24b on the storage unit 24 (S55). . Here, the specific time is, for example, any time of the date to which the scheduled replacement time belongs. For example, the specific time point is midnight of the day to which the scheduled replacement time belongs.

  Upon receiving the request in S55, the control unit 39 of the MFP 30 exports the specific information 38a and transmits it to the device management system 20 (S56).

  When the specific information acquisition unit 25b of the device management system 20 acquires the specific information transmitted from the MFP 30 in S56, the acquired specific information is stored as the specific information 24c in the storage unit 24 in association with the corresponding replacement reservation 24b. (S57).

  At the time when replacement is scheduled, the user removes the MFP 30 from the network 11 at the installation location of the MFP 30, installs the MFP 40 at the installation location of the MFP 30, and connects the MFP 40 to the network 11. Note that the control unit of the MFP 40 acquires its own position information by the position information acquisition unit of the MFP 40.

  The location information acquisition unit 25e of the device management system 20 periodically polls to detect the MFP 40 and acquires location information from the MFP 40 (S58).

  Next, the post-replacement device specifying unit 25c of the device management system 20 rewrites the MFP 30 into the MFP 40 in the map information 24d based on the position information acquired in S58 by the post-replacement device specifying unit 25c (S59). That is, the post-replacement device specifying unit 25c replaces the MFP 30 with the MFP 40 when the location information of the MFP 30 stored in the map information 24d matches the location information of the MFP 40 acquired by the location information acquisition unit 25e. Judge that

  Next, the permission acceptance information transmitting unit 25f of the device management system 20 transmits the permission acceptance information to the MFP 40 (S60). Here, the permission reception information is information on the permission reception screen 80 (see FIG. 8).

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of the permission acceptance screen 80.

  The permission acceptance screen 80 shown in FIG. 8 displays a message 81 asking whether or not to allow the specific information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP to be set in the post-replacement MFP, and an OK button for accepting an operation for permitting the setting. 82 and a cancel button 83 for accepting an operation for disallowing setting.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the control unit of MFP 40 displays a permission reception screen 80 shown in FIG. 8 on the display unit of MFP 40 based on the permission reception information transmitted in S 60, and displays the permission reception screen 80. In response to the instruction via the operation unit of the MFP 40, the device management system 20 is instructed to permit the setting (S61).

  When the specific information setting unit 25d of the device management system 20 receives the setting permission instruction in S61, the specific information 24c of the MFP 30 stored in S57 is set in the MFP 40 specified as the replaced MFP for the MFP 30 in S59. (S62). Then, the control unit of the MFP 40 imports the specific information transmitted from the device management system 20.

  Note that the control unit of the MFP 40 displays, on the display unit of the MFP 40, a message prompting the user to restart after the import of the specific information, when the restart is necessary to reflect the specific information.

  As described above, the device management system 20 obtains information from the pre-replacement MFP at a specific time before the replacement scheduled time included in the replacement reservation for the MFP (S55 and S57). Even when the pre-replacement MFP has already been removed from the network 11 when is connected to the network 11, the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP can be set in the post-replacement MFP (S62).

  The device management system 20 can automatically determine that the pre-replacement MFP has been replaced with the post-replacement MFP based on the position information of the MFP (S58 and S59), so that convenience can be improved.

  In the above description, the control unit of the MFP 40 automatically acquires its own position information by the position information acquisition unit of the MFP 40, but the user may input the position information of the MFP 40 to the MFP 40.

  Further, the position information is indicated by latitude and longitude, but may be indicated by other methods. For example, the position information may be indicated by an expression such as “the third floor of the head office”.

  In the case where the user is permitted to set the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP in the post-replacement MFP by the user (S61), the device management system 20 replaces the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP with the post-replacement MFP. (S62), the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP can be set in the post-replacement MFP as desired by the user.

  Note that the device management system 20 may omit the process of S60 and automatically execute the process of S62 after the process of S59.

  In the above, the permission acceptance screen 80 is displayed on the display unit of the MFP 40 and an instruction to the permission acceptance screen 80 is accepted via the operation unit of the MFP 40. However, the permission acceptance screen 80 is displayed on a computer other than the MFP 40 such as a PC. In addition, when the MFP 40 itself has a Web page that can receive an instruction to the MFP 40 from this computer, the permission acceptance screen 80 may be displayed on a computer other than the MFP 40 by this Web page.

(Second Embodiment)
First, the configuration of the image forming system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  Of the configuration of the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the same configuration as the configuration of the image forming system 10 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment is the same as the configuration of the image forming system 10. The same reference numerals are assigned and detailed description is omitted.

  FIG. 9A is a block diagram of the image forming system 110 according to the present embodiment before replacement of the MFP. FIG. 9B is a block diagram of the image forming system 110 after the replacement of the MFP.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the configuration of the image forming system 110 is the same as the configuration in which the image forming system 10 (see FIG. 1) includes a device management system 120 instead of the device management system 20 (see FIG. 1). is there.

  The image forming system 110 illustrated in FIG. 9B includes not only the MFP 40 but also the MFP 130 and the MFP 140. The MFP 130 is a type different from the MFP 40, that is, a type of MFP. The MFP 140 is the same type of MFP as the MFP 40. MFP 40, MFP 130, and MFP 140 are MFPs connected to network 11 after the scheduled replacement time included in the replacement reservation for MFP 30.

  FIG. 10 is a block diagram of the device management system 120.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the device management system 120 is configured so that the device management system 20 (see FIG. 2) replaces the device management program 24a (see FIG. 2) and the replacement reservation 24b (see FIG. 2). The device management program 124a and the replacement reservation 124b are provided, and the device management system 20 is similar to the configuration not provided with the map information 24d (see FIG. 2).

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of the replacement reservation 124b.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the replacement reservation 124b includes a scheduled replacement time of the MFP, a device ID as identification information of the pre-replacement MFP, the type of the post-replacement MFP, and a password.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the control unit 25 executes the device management program 124 a stored in the storage unit 24, thereby replacing the replacement reservation receiving unit 125 a that receives the replacement reservation and the specific information that acquires the specific information from the pre-replacement MFP. Information acquisition means 25b, post-replacement device specification means 125c for specifying the post-replacement MFP for the pre-replacement MFP, specific information setting means 25d for setting specific information in the post-replacement MFP, and operations for requesting setting of specific information It functions as request reception information distribution means 125e for distributing request reception information for reception to MFPs on the network 11 (see FIG. 9).

  Next, the operation of the image forming system 110 will be described.

  FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image forming system 110.

  As shown in FIG. 12, when the control unit 39 of the MFP 30 is instructed to start the replacement reservation via the operation unit 31 of the MFP 30, the control unit 39 instructs the device management system 120 to start the replacement reservation (S151).

  Next, the replacement reservation accepting unit 125a of the device management system 120 transmits information of the replacement reservation screen 170 (see FIG. 13) to the MFP 30 in response to the instruction of S151 (S152).

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of the reservation screen 170.

  A reservation screen 170 shown in FIG. 13 includes a list display area 171 for indicating a list of MFPs to be managed by the device management system 120 for specifying an MFP before replacement, and a plurality of spin buttons 172 for accepting a scheduled replacement time. A text box 173 for accepting the model of the replaced MFP, a text box 174 for accepting a password, an OK button 175 for executing a reservation for replacement, and a cancel button 176 for canceling the reservation for replacement including.

  The user can select the replacement target MFP 30 from the MFPs displayed in the list display area 171 via the operation unit 31 of the MFP 30.

  As illustrated in FIG. 12, the control unit 39 of the MFP 30 displays the reservation screen 170 illustrated in FIG. 13 on the display unit 32 based on the information transmitted in S152, and instructs the reservation screen 170 via the operation unit 31. In response, the device management system 120 is instructed to reserve replacement of the MFP 30 (S153).

  Note that the processing of S151 and S153 may be executed by an apparatus other than the MFP 30. For example, the user can make a reservation for replacement of the MFP 30 in the device management system 120 via a computer such as a PC (not shown) or an MFP other than the MFP 30.

  The replacement reservation receiving unit 125a of the device management system 120 receives the replacement reservation instructed in S153 (S154). Here, the replacement reservation accepting means 125 a is the replacement scheduled time specified by the spin button 172 of the reservation screen 170, the device ID of the pre-replacement MFP specified in the list display area 171 of the reservation screen 170, and the reservation screen 170. A replacement reservation 124 b including the type specified in the text box 173 and the password specified in the text box 174 of the reservation screen 170 is stored in the storage unit 24.

  Then, the specific information acquisition unit 25b of the device management system 120 and the control unit 39 of the MFP 30 execute the processes of S155 to S157 similar to the processes of S55 to S57.

  The user removes the MFP 30 from the network 11 at the installation location of the MFP 30 when the replacement is scheduled. Further, the user installs the MFP 40 after the scheduled replacement and connects the MFP 40 to the network 11. Note that the MFP 130 and the MFP 140 are also installed after the scheduled replacement and are connected to the network 11.

  The request receiving information distribution unit 125e of the device management system 120 is newly connected to the network 11 after the scheduled replacement included in the replacement reservation 124b by periodically polling, and the replacement reservation 124b. The MFP 40 and the MFP 140 having the same type and the type included in are detected, and the request acceptance information is distributed only to the detected MFP 40 and MFP 140 by a method such as multicast (S158). Here, the request acceptance information is information on a menu button 185 (see FIG. 14) for displaying the request acceptance screen 190 (see FIG. 15).

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen 180 displayed on the display unit of the MFP 40.

  A screen 180 shown in FIG. 14 includes various buttons 181 to 184 and a menu button 185 for displaying a request acceptance screen 190 (see FIG. 15).

  The control unit of the MFP 40 adds a menu button 185 to all the screens 180 displayed on the display unit of the MFP 40 based on the request reception information distributed in S158 as shown in FIG.

  Then, when the menu button 185 is pressed via the operation unit of the MFP 40, the control unit of the MFP 40 displays a request acceptance screen 190 on the display unit of the MFP 40.

  FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of the request reception screen 190.

  A request acceptance screen 190 shown in FIG. 15 includes a text box 191 for accepting a password, an OK button 192 for accepting an operation for requesting a setting, and a cancel button 193 for accepting an operation for canceling the request for setting. including.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the control unit of the MFP 40 transmits a setting request to the device management system 120 in response to an instruction via the operation unit of the MFP 40 for the request reception screen 190 shown in FIG. 15 (S159).

  Next, the post-replacement device specifying unit 125c of the device management system 120 confirms whether or not the password included in the request transmitted in S159 is included in the replacement reservation 124b (S160), and transmitted in S159. If the password included in the request is included in the replacement reservation 124b, the MFP 40 that has transmitted the request is specified as the replaced MFP.

  Then, the specific information setting unit 25d of the device management system 120 sets the specific information 24c of the MFP 30 stored in S157 to the MFP 40 specified as the replaced MFP for the MFP 30 in S160 (S161). Then, the control unit of the MFP 40 imports the specific information transmitted from the device management system 120.

  Note that the control unit of the MFP 40 displays, on the display unit of the MFP 40, a message prompting the user to restart after the import of the specific information, when the restart is necessary to reflect the specific information. The control unit of the MFP 40 deletes the menu button 185 from all the screens 180 displayed on the display unit of the MFP 40 after importing the specific information.

  As described above, the device management system 120 obtains information from the pre-replacement MFP at a specific time before the replacement scheduled time included in the replacement reservation for the MFP (S155 and S157). Even when the pre-replacement MFP has already been removed from the network 11 when is connected to the network 11, the information obtained from the pre-replacement MFP can be set in the post-replacement MFP (S161).

  When a request for setting the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP in the post-replacement MFP is made by the user via the post-replacement MFP (S159), the device management system 120 replaces the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP with the post-replacement MFP. (S161), the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP can be set in the post-replacement MFP at the timing desired by the user.

  Since the device management system 120 distributes the request acceptance information only to the MFPs included in the replacement reservation 124b among the MFPs on the network 11 (S158), the request acceptance is accepted by the MFP that is clearly not the replacement MFP. No information is distributed. Therefore, the device management system 120 is limited to MFPs that accept a request for setting information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP in the post-replacement MFP based on the request acceptance information, and is unnecessary for the MFP user based on the request acceptance information. It is possible to reduce the possibility of making a difficult decision.

  Note that the device management system 120 may distribute the request reception information to the MFP regardless of the type.

  The device management system 120 replaces the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP when a request for setting the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP in the post-replacement MFP is made by a person other than the user who recognizes the password. Since it is not set in the MFP, it is possible to prevent information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP from leaking to a third party.

  The device management system 120 may be configured not to perform password confirmation.

  In the above, the menu button 185 is added to the screen 180 displayed on the display unit of the MFP 40 and an instruction for the menu button 185 is accepted via the operation unit of the MFP 40. However, the menu button 185 is displayed on a computer other than the MFP 40 such as a PC. If the MFP 40 itself has a Web page that can accept instructions from the computer to the MFP 40, a menu button 185 may be added to the Web page. Similarly, the request acceptance screen 190 may be displayed on a computer other than the MFP 40 by the Web page of the MFP 40.

(Third embodiment)
First, the configuration of the image forming system according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  Of the configuration of the image forming system according to the present embodiment, the same configuration as the configuration of the image forming system 10 (see FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment is the same as the configuration of the image forming system 10. The same reference numerals are assigned and detailed description is omitted.

  FIG. 16A is a block diagram of the image forming system 210 according to the present embodiment before the replacement of the MFP. FIG. 16B is a block diagram of the image forming system 210 after the replacement of the MFP.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the image forming system 210 has a configuration in which the image forming system 10 (see FIG. 1) includes a device management system 220 instead of the device management system 20 (see FIG. 1), and the image forming system. 10 is the same as the configuration including the computer 230. The computer 230 is configured by a computer such as a PC, for example.

  FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the device management system 220.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the device management system 220 is configured so that the device management system 20 (see FIG. 2) replaces the device management program 24a (see FIG. 2) and the replacement reservation 24b (see FIG. 2). The device management program 224a and the replacement reservation 224b are provided, and the device management system 20 is not provided with the map information 24d (see FIG. 2) but has the same configuration as the user information 224d.

  FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of the replacement reservation 224b.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the replacement reservation 224b includes the scheduled replacement time of the MFP, the device ID as identification information of the MFP before replacement, the model of the MFP after replacement, and the user ID as identification information of the user. Contains.

  FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating an example of the user information 224d.

  As illustrated in FIG. 19, the user information 224d includes a user ID as user identification information and a user password for each user.

  As illustrated in FIG. 17, the control unit 25 executes the device management program 224 a stored in the storage unit 24, thereby replacing the replacement reservation receiving unit 225 a that receives a replacement reservation, and specifying that acquires specific information from the pre-replacement MFP. An information acquisition unit 25b, a post-replacement device specifying unit 225c for specifying a post-replacement MFP for the pre-replacement MFP, a specific information setting unit 25d for setting specific information in the post-replacement MFP, a registration receiving unit 225e for accepting MFP registration, and a specification It functions as request reception information transmitting means 225f for transmitting request reception information for receiving an operation for requesting setting of information to a registration input source.

  Next, the operation of the image forming system 210 will be described.

  FIG. 20 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image forming system 210 until the specific information of the pre-replacement MFP is stored.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the control unit of the computer 230 displays the login screen of the web page of the device management system 220 on the display unit, and the login to the device management system 220 from the login screen is performed by the computer 230. When instructed via the operation unit, the device management system 220 is requested to log in by transmitting the combination of the user ID and password input on the login screen to the device management system 220 (S251).

  Then, the control unit 25 of the device management system 220 confirms whether or not the combination of the user ID and the password transmitted from the computer 230 is included in the user information 224d, and the usage transmitted from the computer 230. If the combination of the user ID and password is included in the user information 224d, the user is permitted to log in (S252).

  Next, when the start of replacement reservation is instructed via the operation unit of the computer 230, the control unit of the computer 230 instructs the device management system 220 to start replacement reservation (S253).

  Next, the replacement reservation accepting unit 225a of the device management system 220 transmits information on the replacement reservation screen 270 (see FIG. 21) to the MFP 30 in response to the instruction in S253 (S254).

  FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating an example of the reservation screen 270.

  The reservation screen 270 shown in FIG. 21 includes a list display area 271 for indicating a list of MFPs to be managed by the device management system 220 for designation of the pre-replacement MFP, and a plurality of spin buttons 272 for accepting a scheduled replacement time. , A text box 273 for accepting the model of the replaced MFP, an OK button 274 for executing a replacement reservation, and a cancel button 275 for canceling the replacement reservation.

  The user can select the replacement target MFP 30 from the MFPs displayed in the list display area 271 via the operation unit of the computer 230.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the control unit of the computer 230 displays the reservation screen 270 shown in FIG. 21 on the display unit based on the information transmitted in S254, and responds to an instruction via the operation unit for the reservation screen 270. Then, the device management system 220 is instructed to replace the MFP 30 (S255).

  The replacement reservation receiving means 225a of the device management system 220 receives the replacement reservation instructed in S255 (S256). Here, the replacement reservation accepting means 225 a displays the scheduled replacement time specified by the spin button 272 of the reservation screen 270, the device ID of the pre-replacement MFP specified in the list display area 271 of the reservation screen 270, and the reservation screen 270. A replacement reservation 224b including the type specified in the text box 273 and the user ID of the logged-in user is stored in the storage unit 24.

  Then, the specific information acquisition unit 25b of the device management system 220 and the control unit 39 of the MFP 30 execute the processes of S257 to S259 similar to the processes of S55 to S57.

  FIG. 22 is a sequence diagram of the operation of the image forming system 210 after storing the specific information of the pre-replacement MFP.

  When it is time to replace the user, the user removes the MFP 30 from the network 11 at the installation location of the MFP 30 and installs the MFP 40 to connect the MFP 40 to the network 11.

  As illustrated in FIG. 22, the control unit of the computer 230 requests login to the device management system 220 in accordance with an instruction via the operation unit of the computer 230 in the same manner as the process of S251 (S261).

  And the control part 25 of the device management system 220 permits a user's login like the process of S252 (S262).

  Next, the control unit of the computer 230 requests registration of a new MFP, that is, the MFP 40 in response to an instruction via the operation unit of the computer 230 (S263).

  The registration accepting unit 225e of the device management system 220 accepts registration of the MFP 40 in response to the request in S263 (S264).

  Next, the request reception information transmission unit 225f of the device management system 220 is a case where there is a replacement reservation 224b including the user ID of the MFP 40 registration request received in S264, that is, the user ID of the logged-in user. When the type included in the replacement reservation 224b is the same as the type of the MFP 40, the request acceptance information for the replacement reservation 224b is transmitted to the registration input source of the MFP 40, that is, the computer 230 (S265). Here, the request reception information is information on the request reception screen 280 (see FIG. 23).

  FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the request acceptance screen 280. As shown in FIG.

  The request reception screen 280 shown in FIG. 23 displays a message 281 asking whether or not to request the specific information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP to be set in the post-replacement MFP, and an OK button for accepting an operation for requesting the setting. 282 and a cancel button 283 for accepting an operation for canceling the setting request.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the control unit of the computer 230 displays the request reception screen 280 shown in FIG. 23 on the display unit of the computer 230 based on the request reception information transmitted in S265, and the request reception screen. A setting request is instructed to the device management system 220 in accordance with an instruction to the H.280 via the operation unit of the computer 230 (S266).

  Therefore, the post-replacement device specifying unit 225c of the device management system 220 specifies the MFP 40 received in S264 as the replaced MFP because the request has been transmitted in S266 from the computer 230 to which the request reception information has been transmitted in S265. To do. Then, the specific information setting unit 25d of the device management system 220 sets the specific information 24c of the MFP 30 stored in S259 to the MFP 40 specified as the replaced MFP for the MFP 30 (S267). Then, the control unit of the MFP 40 imports the specific information transmitted from the device management system 220.

  Note that the control unit of the MFP 40 displays, on the display unit of the MFP 40, a message prompting the user to restart after the import of the specific information, when the restart is necessary to reflect the specific information.

  As described above, the device management system 220 obtains information from the pre-replacement MFP at a specific time before the replacement scheduled time included in the replacement reservation for the MFP (S257 and S259). Even when the pre-replacement MFP has already been removed from the network 11 when is connected to the network 11, the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP can be set in the post-replacement MFP (S267).

  The device management system 220 replaces when the request for setting the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP in the post-replacement MFP is made by the user via the post-replacement MFP registration input source, that is, the computer 230 (S266). Since the information acquired from the previous MFP is set in the replaced MFP (S267), the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP can be set in the replaced MFP at the timing desired by the user.

  When the user specified in the replacement reservation 224b requests registration of a new MFP (S263), the device management system 220 performs an operation for requesting to set the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP in the post-replacement MFP. Since the request acceptance information for acceptance is transmitted (S265), it is possible to prevent the information acquired from the pre-replacement MFP from leaking to a third party.

  Note that the device management system 220 transmits request acceptance information to a new MFP registration input source when a new MFP registration is requested, regardless of the user who requested the new MFP registration. May be.

  The device management system 220 transmits request acceptance information when the replacement reservation 224b includes a new MFP type whose registration has been accepted in S264 (S265), so it is clear that it is not a replaced MFP. Even if the MFP is newly registered, the request acceptance information is not transmitted. Therefore, the device management system 220 can reduce the possibility of causing the MFP registrant to make unnecessary determinations based on the request acceptance information.

  Note that the device management system 220 may transmit request acceptance information when registration of a new MFP is requested regardless of the type of the new MFP.

  In the above, the operation in which the computer 230 is used can be replaced by the MFP. For example, in the operation illustrated in FIG. 20, an MFP such as the MFP 30 may be used instead of the computer 230. In the operation illustrated in FIG. 22, an MFP such as the MFP 40 may be used instead of the computer 230.

  The “device management system” of the present invention is configured by one computer in each of the above-described embodiments, but may be configured by a plurality of computers.

  The “device” of the present invention is an MFP in each of the embodiments described above, but may be an image forming apparatus other than the MFP, such as a dedicated printer, or a device other than the image forming apparatus, such as a PC. Also good.

11 Network 20 Device Management System 24a Device Management Program 24b Replacement Reservation (Reservation)
24c Specific information (specific information)
25a Replacement reservation acceptance means 25b Specific information acquisition means 25c Replacement device identification means 25d Specific information setting means 25e Location information acquisition means 25f Permit acceptance information transmission means 30 MFP (device before replacement)
38a Specific information (specific information)
40 MFP (device after replacement)
120 Device management system 124a Device management program 124b Replacement reservation (reservation)
125a Replacement reservation accepting means 125c Device replacement specifying means 125e Information accepting means for accepting requests 130, 140 MFP (device)
220 Device management system 224a Device management program 224b Replacement reservation (reservation)
225a Replacement reservation accepting means 225c Subsequent device specifying means 225e Registration accepting means 225f Request accepting information transmitting means 230 Computer (device registration input source)

Claims (10)

A device management system for managing devices over a network,
A replacement reservation receiving means for receiving a device replacement reservation;
Specific information acquisition means for acquiring specific information from the device before replacement at a specific time before the scheduled replacement time included in the reservation received by the replacement reservation receiving means;
A post-replacement device specifying means for specifying a device after replacement with respect to the device before replacement;
A device management system comprising: specific information setting means for setting the specific information acquired by the specific information acquisition means in the replaced device specified by the post-replacement device specifying means. A location information acquisition means for acquiring location information of the device;
The post-replacement device specifying means indicates that the pre-replacement device is replaced with the post-replacement device, and the post-replacement device acquired by the positional information acquisition means and the positional information of the pre-replacement device The device management system according to claim 1, wherein the determination is based on the position information of the device. Including permission acceptance information transmitting means for transmitting permission acceptance information for accepting an operation for permission of setting of the specific information to the replaced device;
The specific information setting unit sends the specific information to the replaced device when the permission is transmitted from the replaced device to which the permission receiving information is transmitted by the permission receiving information transmitting unit. The device management system according to claim 2, wherein the device management system is set. A request acceptance information delivery means for delivering request acceptance information for accepting an operation for requesting setting of the specific information to devices on the network;
The post-replacement device specifying unit specifies, as the post-replacement device, a device that has transmitted the request among devices to which the request reception information distribution unit has distributed the request reception information. Item 2. The device management system according to Item 1. The reservation includes the type of device after the replacement,
5. The device management system according to claim 4, wherein the request reception information distribution unit distributes the request reception information only to devices of a type included in the reservation among devices on the network. The reservation includes a password,
5. The replaced device specifying unit, when a password included in the request is included in the reservation, specifies a device that has transmitted the request as the replaced device. The device management system according to claim 5. Registration acceptance means for accepting device registration;
Request acceptance information transmitting means for transmitting request acceptance information for accepting an operation for requesting setting of the specific information to an input source of the registration;
The request reception information transmission means transmits the request reception information when registration of a new device is received by the registration reception means,
The post-replacement device specifying unit is configured to receive the new request received by the registration receiving unit when the request is transmitted from the input source from which the request receiving information is transmitted by the request receiving information transmitting unit. The device management system according to claim 1, wherein a device is specified as the device after replacement. The reservation includes user identification information;
The request acceptance information transmitting means transmits the request acceptance information when the reservation includes identification information of a requester of registration of the new device accepted by the registration acceptance means. The device management system according to claim 7, wherein: The reservation includes the type of device after the replacement,
8. The request reception information transmission unit transmits the request reception information when the reservation includes the type of the new device received by the registration reception unit. Or the device management system of Claim 8. A device management program for managing devices over a network,
Replacement reservation acceptance means for accepting device replacement reservations,
Specific information acquisition means for acquiring specific information from the device before replacement at a specific time before the scheduled replacement time included in the reservation received by the replacement reservation receiving means;
A post-replacement device specifying means for specifying a device after replacement with respect to the device before replacement; and
A device management program for causing a computer to function as specific information setting means for setting the specific information acquired by the specific information acquisition means in the replaced device specified by the post-replacement device specifying means .

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